Hair Damage and Conditioners. Iman Jafri and Hannah Lutz.
This lab explored the damages hair experiences when it is dyed, straightened, and brushed as well as the abilities of conditioner, oil, and vinegar to heal these damages. It primarily used a microscope to evaluate the hair when exposed to combinations of each of the conditions and substances. All three of the hair styling processes were found to cause negative changes in the condition of the hair shaft. The hair dye, while significantly lightening the hair, also severely cracked the hair shaft and caused the hair cuticles, which normally lie flat, to stand out. The brushing also caused the cuticles to stand out and straightening burned the hair. Vinegar was found to only further weather the damaged hair and oil only produced slight results, while the conditioner appeared to heal a larger amount of the damage. Keywords: hair, hair cuticles, hair damage, conditioner, oil, vinegar, dye, straightening, brushing. Recording:
Apparatus (Microscope): Summary Graphic (table in Word): Hairs under Microscope at 400x
This lab explored the damages hair experiences when it is dyed, straightened, and brushed as well as the abilities of conditioner, oil, and vinegar to heal these damages. It primarily used a microscope to evaluate the hair when exposed to combinations of each of the conditions and substances. All three of the hair styling processes were found to cause negative changes in the condition of the hair shaft. The hair dye, while significantly lightening the hair, also severely cracked the hair shaft and caused the hair cuticles, which normally lie flat, to stand out. The brushing also caused the cuticles to stand out and straightening burned the hair. Vinegar was found to only further weather the damaged hair and oil only produced slight results, while the conditioner appeared to heal a larger amount of the damage.
Keywords: hair, hair cuticles, hair damage, conditioner, oil, vinegar, dye, straightening, brushing.
Recording:
Apparatus (Microscope):
Summary Graphic (table in Word):
Hairs under Microscope at 400x
Sources:
- Fruen Lois. 2008. Natural, Braided, Bleached, Colored, Straight, and Curly Hair... Thanks to Chemistry. ChemMatters 15-17.
- Hair Formula 37. 2008. Hair Structure and Hair Chemistry. http://www.hairformula37.com/chemistry.htm (Accessed 2010 February 8).